LAOAG CITY — The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) earned a total revenue of PHP30.78 billion from January to June this year, up PHP6.4 billion or 26 percent from PHP24.4 billion in the same period of 2017.
The amount represents the combined earnings of PCSO from all its products: Lotto, Keno, Sweepstakes, and Small Town Lottery (STL).
PCSO General Manager Alexander Balutan confirmed this Tuesday as he shared the office’s accomplishments to Northern Luzon stakeholders in a media forum held at the Fort Ilocandia Resort and Casino Hotel, this city.
Balutan said the PCSO is doing its best to hit its target and ensure that benefits trickle down to the grassroots, such as in the Ilocos region.
“Figures don’t lie. The 26 percent increase is proof that we are generating more revenues, which is close to the almost PHP50-billion target this year,” he said. “We are conducting media fora in all parts of the country to show to the public that PCSO is transparent in our dealings. We would like to show the public where their money goes.”
The different branches of PCSO in Luzon were represented in full force, as Balutan spearheaded the conduct of the “Sama-samang Talakayan at Linawan”, a stakeholders forum to shed light on the current programs and projects of the PCSO in support of the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, particularly in the delivery of social services and infrastructure programs.
Of the four gaming products of PCSO, the STL , better known as legalized “jueteng”, had the highest revenue of PHP12.4 billion in the first half of the year, compared to only PHP5 billion in the same period last year.
Balutan said the increase in revenue shows the government’s intensified effort to get rid of illegal gambling and allow the entry of STL operation in every province.
While urging all stakeholders to support PCSO gaming products, he assured that as PSCO generates more revenues, it would be able to serve more beneficiaries.
For the first semester of 2018, the PCSO reported a total of 236,595 patient-beneficiaries served, 31 percent or 51,688 patients more, compared to the same period last year.
The amount of charity assistance translates to approximately PHP4.6 million that was granted this year. (Leilanie Adriano/PNA)
